Toy vehicle with removable soft body portion

ABSTRACT

A toy vehicle which includes a body portion of soft cushion-type material shaped in the form of an automobile and on which a child may sit. The body portion is supported on a rigid base portion which has a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted thereon to permit the vehicle to be ridden by a child over a supporting surface such as a floor. The soft body portion is removably mounted by snap means on the rigid base portion to permit the body portion to be separated from the base portion and used by the child for a pillow or the like. The body portion has front and rear flexible flaps which are hingedly fixed to the body portion along one edge thereof to simulate front and rear hood or trunk lids. Side flaps are provided simulating doors. Pockets are provided beneath some of the flaps and the flaps are held down by buttons, buckles or the like. A spare wheel is disposed beneath one of the front or rear flaps to simulate a spare tire for the automobile and a simulated automobile motor is imprinted on the body portion beneath the other flap.

United States Patent 1 Glass et a1. 9

TOY VEHICLE WITH REMOVABLE SOFT BODY PORTION Assignee:

Filed:

Inventors: Marvin I. Glass, Chicago; Howard J. Morrison, Highland Park; Bette M. Kaelin, Chicago, all of I11.

Marvin Glass & Associates,

Chicago, 111.

US. Cl.....

Feb. 22, 1972 Appl. No.: 227,816

280/l.1, 280/87.02, 296/136 Int. Cl B62d 11/00 Field of Search 280/l.1, 1.11, 87.01, 87.02,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Feb. 12, 1974 Primary Examiner-Leo Friaglia Assistant ExaminerRandall A. Schrecengost Attorney, Agent, or FirmCoffee & Sweeney 57 ABSTRACT A toy vehicle which includes a body portion of soft cushion-type material shaped in the form of an automobile and on which a child may sit. The body portion is supported on a rigid base portion which has a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted thereon to permit the vehicle to be ridden by a child over a supporting surface such as a floor. The soft body portion is re movably mounted by snap means on the rigid base portion to permit the body portion to be separated from the base portion and used by the child for a pillow or the like. The body portion has front and rear flexible flaps which are hingedly fixed to the body portion along one edge thereof to simulate front and rear hood or trunk lids. Side flaps are provided simulating doors. Pockets are provided beneath some of the flaps and the flaps are held down by buttons, buckles or the like. A spare wheel is disposed beneath one of the front or rear flaps to simulate a spare tire for the automobile and a simulated automobile motor is imprinted on the body portion beneath the other flap.

25 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB FEB x 21914 SHEET 2 UP 3 PATENTEBFEBI 21w 3, 791 ,662 Y sum 5 (if 3 TOY VEHICLE WITH REMOVABLE SOFT BODY PORTION BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to toy vehicles and particularly to a new and improved toy vehicle on which a child may sit and ride and which has a soft body portion removably mounted on a rigid base portion for use by the child as a pillow or the like.

There presently are available enumerable toy vehicles for use by small children, some of which are of a size and/or design for riding by a child. Most of these vehicles are fabricated of rigid metal or plastic material and which may scratch or mar furniture or other items in the area of a house or the like where the child may be riding the vehicle. On the other hand, there are available stuffed toys which are used by a child as a pillow, or the like, or for cuddling purposes similar to any stuffed doll, or the like. The latter stuffed vehicles are not designed for riding purposes.

The present invention is designed to provide a toy vehicle which has a rigid base portion and rotatably mounted wheels providing means for moving the vehicle over a supporting surface, such as a floor, as a child sits on and rides the vehicle, but which has a soft body portion resembling an automobile and which may be removed from the rigid base portion and used as a pillow, or the like.

The principal object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a new and improved, novel toy vehicle of the character described.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the rigid base portion of the vehicle is generally flat and has annular fender portions within which the rotatable wheels are mounted. The body portion of the toy vehicle is fabricated of a soft cushion-type material shaped in the form of an automobile and on which a child may sit. The bottom of the soft body is shaped to conform to the top of the rigid base and includes annular soft covering portions for the fender portions of the base. The soft body is removably mounted on the rigid base by snap means having complementary male and female portions fixed to the top of the rigid base and the underside of the body of the vehicle.

The body of the vehicle has an outer flexible covering, preferably vinyl material, which encloses a soft cushion-type stuffing material. A substantial portion of the stuffing material of the body is comprised of foam plastic pebbles. However, a layer of foam plastic material is disposed within the flexible vinyl covering at the top of the vehicle body providing relative firmness (in comparison to the foam plastic pebbles) in the area of the body where the child sits. The shape of said layer of foam plastic material conforms to the desired contour of the top of the vehicle. Other layers of foam plastic material are provided within the flexible body covering for overlying the fender portions of the rigid base of the vehicle. A flexible vinyl strap extends transversely across the top of the vehicle body on the outside thereof for grasping by a child who sits on the vehicle.

Other features are provided for stimulating the interest of the child and include a flexible flap at the front end of the soft vehicle body, the flap being fixed along a rear edge thereof to the body for hinging thereabout to simulate the front hood of an automobile. A button type latch means is provided at the front edge of the flap to hold the flap down against the body. An additional wheel is disposed beneath the flap to simulate a spare tire for the automobile. A second flap is provided at the rear of the soft vehicle body portion to simulate the trunk lid of an automobile, and buckle-type latch means holds the rear flap down against the body. A simulated automobile motor is imprinted on the body covering beneath the rear flap. Button-down side flaps are provided simulating doors. Pockets are provided behind some of the flaps, at least one pocket having a zipper for opening and closing the same.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy vehicle embodying the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the toy vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical, generally central, section taken front to rear of the toy vehicle of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view, partially broken away, of the toy vehicle;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the toy vehicle, with the rear flap held down against the vehicle body by the buckle-type latch means;

FIG. 7 is a broken away elevational view of the rear flap (shown in FIG. 6) raised from the vehicle body to illustrate the simulated automobile motor which is imprinted on the body covering beneath the rear flap; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective view of the toy vehicle of the present invention, showing particularly the body portion thereof removed from the base portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the toy vehicle of the present invention, generally designated 10 in FIG. ll, includes a body portion, generally designated 12, fabricated of soft cushion-type material shaped in the form of an automobile and on which a child may comfortably sit. The body 12 is rernovably mounted (by means to be described in greater detail hereinafter) on a rigid supporting base portion, generally designated 14, as best seen in FIG. 8. Four wheels 16 are rotatably mounted on the rigid base 14 by means of a pair of shafts or axles 18 (FIGS. 3 and 4) extending through apertures 20 and bosses 22 (FIG. 8) on the rigid base 14. The wheels are rotatably mounted on the ends of the axles.

The rigid supporting base 14 for the soft cushion body 12 is best seen in FIG. 8. The base is generally flat, as at Ma, and includes a front to rear, longitudinally extending supporting rib 14b and transversely extending supporting ribs 14c. Four annular fender portions 24 are formed integral with the rigid base 14 along the sides thereof and within which the upper portions of the wheels 16 are disposed similarly to an actual automobile. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the rigid supporting base 14 and its supporting ribs and fender portions has been fabricated of styrene plastic to provide sufficient support for the toy vehicle. The wheels 16 have been fabricated of blow molded plastic.

The soft cushion body portion 12 of the toy vehicle of the present invention is formed in the shape of an au tomobile, with the underside thereof shaped to conform to the contour of the upper surfaces of the rigid base 14, including the ribs 14b, 14c, the bosses 22 and the fender portions 24. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 8, the soft cushion body 12 is removably mounted on the rigid base 14 by a plurality of snap means, generally designated 26 in FIG. 2. The snap means 26 include male portions 26a mounted on the top of the rigid base 14 and female portions 26b mounted on the underside of the soft body 12, as is illustrated best in FIG. 8. Of course, the male portions 26a may be fixed to the underside of the soft body 12 and the female portions 26b may be fixed to the top of the rigid base 14.

As best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the soft cushiontype body portion 12 is fabricated of an outer flexible covering 28, preferably of vinyl type material, which encloses a soft cushion-type stuffing material. In the embodiment of the invention shown herein, the stuffing material for a substantial portion of the soft body 12 comprises foam plastic pebbles 30. The flexible outer covering 28 of the soft body 12 encases the foam plastic pebbles 30, and edges of the flexible covering may be sewn together by stitching 31 (FIG. 3) to provide a self contained soft cushion device which may be used by a child for a pillow, or the like, when separated from the rigid base 14 of the toy vehicle. As seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the underside of the flexible covering 28 is shaped to accommodate the supporting rib 14b (as well as supporting ribs 14c) of the rigid base 14, the snap means 26, the wheel shafts or axles l8 and the fender portions 24. Layers 32 (FIGS. 4 and of foam plastic material are provided within the flexible body covering 28 for overlying each of the fender portions 24 and extending between the fender portions to form running boards 33 (FIG. 8) for the vehicle. These layers of foam plastic material provide for more firmness in the areas of the fenders and the running boards than would be provided by the foam plastic pebbles 30. Another, relatively thick, layer 34 (FIGS. 3 and 5) of foam plastic material is provided within the flexible body covering 28 at the top of the soft body 12 providing relative firmness in the area of the body portion of the vehicle where a child will sit. As seen best in FIG. 3, a pair of transversely extending styrene plastic ribs 36 are provided at the extreme front and rear lower portions of the soft body 12 providing support in the same area of the bumpers for the automobile. Strips 37 of foam plastic material are disposed on the outside of the ribs 36 for cushioning purposes. The ribs 36 and foam strips 37 are surrounded by a flexible (preferably vinyl) sheath 37' to provide bumper assemblies which are sewn directly onto the outer body covering 28.

Other features are provided to enhance the utility of the toy vehicle of the present invention and to stimulate the interest of a child using the toy. First of all, a flexible strap 38 (FIG. 8) extends transversely across the top of the soft body 12 to provide means by which a child may hold onto the vehicle as he sits on and rides the same. The strap 38 is afforded by means of a continuous loop of flexible material (preferably vinyl) which is formed by a strip of such material extending through slits 39 in the outer body covering 28 (as seen best in FIG. 5), the ends of the strip being sewn together as at 39'.

A flexible flap 40 is provided at the front of the soft body 12, the flap being fixed along its rear edge 400 (as by sewing) to the body for hinging thereabout to simulate the front hood of an automobile. The flap 40 is held down against the soft body by releasable latch means at the opposite edge 40b thereof. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, this means includes a button 42 sewn to the outer flexible body covering 28 and a cooperating button hole 42a formed in the front of the flexible flap 40. As seen best in FIGS. 2 and 3, an additional wheel 16' is disposed beneath the flap 40 to simulate a spare tire for the automobile. The spare tire is held onto the outer body covering by means of a pair of strings 43 which are threaded through grommets 43' in the spare tire. The strings may be used for teaching or training a child to properly tie knots.

As best seen in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, another flap 44 is disposed at the rear of the soft body portion 12 of the vehicle and is fixed along its front edge 34a to the flexible body covering 28 as by stitching or the like to simulate a trunk lid, or the like. The rear flap 4 is held down against the body 12 by releasable latch means which includes a buckle 46 fixed to the flexible body covering 28 and a buckle strap 46a fixed to the rear edge of the flap 44. As seen in FIG. 7, a simulated automobile motor is imprinted, as at 48, on the exterior of the body covering beneath the rear flap 44. Of course, the motor imprint 48 and the spare tire or wheel 16 may be reversed, with the motor at the front of the vehicle and the wheel at the rear of the vehicle as is prevalent with a majority of the automobiles made in the United States. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, a sheet of flexible (preferably vinyl) material 49 is sewn, as at 49', to the outer body covering 28 on the inside thereof behind the rear flap 44, and a slit 49" is provided in the outer body covering and the interior sheet 49. A zipper, generally designated Z, is employed for opening and closing the pocket and thereby providing additional manual dexterity means for a child.

The exterior of the flexible body covering 28 is imprinted with outlines 50 of a plurality of windows for the toy vehicle. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, a plurality of human faces 52 are imprinted on the flexible body covering within the outlines of the windows 50.

Side flaps 54 are disposed on the sides of the soft body portion 12 of the vehicle and are fixed along their top edges 54a to the flexible body covering 28 as by stitching 56 or the like to simulate side doors for the vehicle. The side flaps 54 are held down against the body 12 by releasable latch means comprising buttons 58 and cooperating buttonholes 60 formed at the bottom of the flaps 54. The buttons 58 are attached by means of elastic thread 62 (FIG. 5) which gives flexibility in manipulating the buttons 58 through the holes 60. An interior flat button 64 is secured to the elastic thread on the inside of the body 12 to prevent tearing of the body covering material.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, a strip 66 of flexible material is sewn, as at 68, to the outer body covering 28 on the inside thereof. The strip 66 has a width slightly less than the width of the side flaps 54 and extends behind the flaps and across the underside of the layer 34 of foam plastic material. Horizontal slits 69 are formed in the outer body covering adjacent the stitching 56 for the side flaps 54 and cooperate with the strip 66 and outer covering to provide pockets behind the flaps 54, with manual access thereto through the slits 69.

We claim:

1. A toy vehicle comprising:

a rigid base;

a plurality of ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted on said base for movably supporting said base;

a body supported on said base fabricated substantially of soft cushion-like material on which a child may comfortably sit; and

a simulated automobile hood at the front of the body including a flexible flap portion fixed to the body along a rear edge of the flap portion for hinging thereabout, and holding means remote from said edge for releasably holding the flap portion down against the body.

2. The toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises a button fixed to said body and a cooperating button hole formed in said flexible flap portion.

3. The toy vehicle of claim 1 including an additional wheel disposed beneath said flap portion to simulate a spare tire for the automobile.

4. The toy vehicle of claim 3 including string means attached to said body and threaded through apertures in said spare tire for holding the spare tire onto the body.

5. A toy vehicle comprising:

a generally flat rigid base having annular fender portions formed thereon;

a plurality of ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted on said base for rollingly supporting said base, each wheel being mounted below one of the annular fender portions; and

a body fabricated substantially of soft cushion-like material on which a child may comfortably sit, said body being supportably mounted on said base, the bottom of said body being shaped to the contour of the top of said base including annular soft covering portions for the fender portions of said base.

6. The toy vehicle of claim 5 including a flexible strap extending transversely across the top of said body and fixed to the body to provide means by which a child may hold onto the vehicle as he sits on and rides the vehicle.

7. The toy vehicle of claim 5 wherein said body is formed in the shape of an automobile and has the outline of a plurality of windows imprinted on the exterior thereof, and including a plurality of human faces imprinted within the outlines of said windows.

8. The toy vehicle of claim 7 wherein said wheels are removably mounted on shaft means mounted on said rigid base.

9. The toy vehicle of claim 5 wherein said body is removably mounted on said base.

10. The toy vehicle of claim 9, wherein said outer flexible covering is fabricated of vinyl material.

11. The toy vehicle of claim 5 wherein said body includes an outer flexible covering enclosing a soft cushion-type stuffing material.

12. The toy vehicle of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of said stuffing material is comprised of foam plastic pebbles.

13. The toy vehicle of claim 12 including a layer of foam plastic material within said flexible body covering at the top thereof providing relative firmness in the area of the body where the child sits, the top of said layer conforming to the desired contour of the top of the vehicle.

14. The toy vehicle of claim 13 wherein said base has an annular fender portion about the upper portion of each of said wheels, and including a layer of foam plastic material within said flexible body covering overlying each of said fender portions.

15. A toy vehicle comprising:

a rigid base;

a plurality of ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted on said base for movably supporting said base;

a body supporting on said base fabricated substantially of soft cushion-like material on which a child may comfortably sit; and

a simulated automobile hood at the rear of the body including a flexible flap portion fixed along a front edge thereof to the body for hinging thereabout, and holding means remote from said edge for releasably holding the flap portion against the body.

16. The toy vehicle of claim 15 wherein said holding means comprises a buckle on either of said body and said flap portion and a cooperating buckle strap on the other of said body and said flap.

17. The toy vehicle of claim 15 wherein a simulated automobile motor is imprinted on the exterior of said body beneath said flap portion.

18. The toy vehicle of claim 15 including means defining a pocket on the inside of said body behind said flap portion.

19. The toy vehicle of claim 18 wherein a slit is formed in said body above the front edge of said flap portion providing access to said pocket, and including zipper means for opening and closing said slit.

21 A toy vehicle comprising:

a rigid base;

a plurality of ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted on said base for movably supporting said base;

a body supported on said base fabricated substantially of soft cushion-like material on which a child may comfortably sit; and

a simulated automobile side door at the side of the body including a flexible flap portion fixed along an edge thereof to the body for hinging thereabout, and holding means remote from said edge for re leasably holding the flap portion against the body.

21. The toy vehicle of claim 20 wherein said holding means comprises a button fixed to said body and a cooperating buttonhole formed in said flexible flap portion.

22. The toy vehicle of claim 20 including means defining a pocket on the inside of said body behind said flap portion.

23. The toy vehicle of claim 22 wherein a slit is formed in said body behind said flap portion providing access to said pocket.

24. A toy vehicle comprising:

a rigid base;

a plurality of ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted on said base for movably supporting said base;

a body supported on said base fabricated substantially of soft cushion-like material shaped in the form of an automobile on which a child may sit; and

securing means removably mounting said soft body 25. A toy vehicle comprising: a generally flat rigid base, a plurality of ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted on said base for movably supporting said base, said base having an annular fender portion about the upper areas of each of said wheels, a body supported on said base and fabricated substantially of soft cushion-like material on which a child may comfortably sit and ride the vehicle, the bottom of said body portion being shaped to the contour of the top of said base portion and including annular soft covering portions for said fender portions, securing means removably mounting said body onto said face to permit the body to be separated from the base and used by the child as a pillow, and said body being formed in the shape of an automobile having soft rounded conventional automobile portions on which a child may rest his head. 

1. A toy vehicle comprising: a rigid base; a plurality of ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted on said base for movably supporting said base; a body supported on said base fAbricated substantially of soft cushion-like material on which a child may comfortably sit; and a simulated automobile hood at the front of the body including a flexible flap portion fixed to the body along a rear edge of the flap portion for hinging thereabout, and holding means remote from said edge for releasably holding the flap portion down against the body.
 2. The toy vehicle of claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises a button fixed to said body and a cooperating button hole formed in said flexible flap portion.
 3. The toy vehicle of claim 1 including an additional wheel disposed beneath said flap portion to simulate a spare tire for the automobile.
 4. The toy vehicle of claim 3 including string means attached to said body and threaded through apertures in said spare tire for holding the spare tire onto the body.
 5. A toy vehicle comprising: a generally flat rigid base having annular fender portions formed thereon; a plurality of ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted on said base for rollingly supporting said base, each wheel being mounted below one of the annular fender portions; and a body fabricated substantially of soft cushion-like material on which a child may comfortably sit, said body being supportably mounted on said base, the bottom of said body being shaped to the contour of the top of said base including annular soft covering portions for the fender portions of said base.
 6. The toy vehicle of claim 5 including a flexible strap extending transversely across the top of said body and fixed to the body to provide means by which a child may hold onto the vehicle as he sits on and rides the vehicle.
 7. The toy vehicle of claim 5 wherein said body is formed in the shape of an automobile and has the outline of a plurality of windows imprinted on the exterior thereof, and including a plurality of human faces imprinted within the outlines of said windows.
 8. The toy vehicle of claim 7 wherein said wheels are removably mounted on shaft means mounted on said rigid base.
 9. The toy vehicle of claim 5 wherein said body is removably mounted on said base.
 10. The toy vehicle of claim 9, wherein said outer flexible covering is fabricated of vinyl material.
 11. The toy vehicle of claim 5 wherein said body includes an outer flexible covering enclosing a soft cushion-type stuffing material.
 12. The toy vehicle of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of said stuffing material is comprised of foam plastic pebbles.
 13. The toy vehicle of claim 12 including a layer of foam plastic material within said flexible body covering at the top thereof providing relative firmness in the area of the body where the child sits, the top of said layer conforming to the desired contour of the top of the vehicle.
 14. The toy vehicle of claim 13 wherein said base has an annular fender portion about the upper portion of each of said wheels, and including a layer of foam plastic material within said flexible body covering overlying each of said fender portions.
 15. A toy vehicle comprising: a rigid base; a plurality of ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted on said base for movably supporting said base; a body supporting on said base fabricated substantially of soft cushion-like material on which a child may comfortably sit; and a simulated automobile hood at the rear of the body including a flexible flap portion fixed along a front edge thereof to the body for hinging thereabout, and holding means remote from said edge for releasably holding the flap portion against the body.
 16. The toy vehicle of claim 15 wherein said holding means comprises a buckle on either of said body and said flap portion and a cooperating buckle strap on the other of said body and said flap.
 17. The toy vehicle of claim 15 wherein a simulated automobile motor is imprinted on the exterior of said body beneath said flap portion.
 18. The toy vehicle of claim 15 including means defining a pocket on the inside of said body behind said flap portion.
 19. The toy vehicle of claim 18 wherein a slit is formed in said body above the front edge of said flap portion providing access to said pocket, and including zipper means for opening and closing said slit.
 20. A toy vehicle comprising: a rigid base; a plurality of ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted on said base for movably supporting said base; a body supported on said base fabricated substantially of soft cushion-like material on which a child may comfortably sit; and a simulated automobile side door at the side of the body including a flexible flap portion fixed along an edge thereof to the body for hinging thereabout, and holding means remote from said edge for releasably holding the flap portion against the body.
 21. The toy vehicle of claim 20 wherein said holding means comprises a button fixed to said body and a cooperating buttonhole formed in said flexible flap portion.
 22. The toy vehicle of claim 20 including means defining a pocket on the inside of said body behind said flap portion.
 23. The toy vehicle of claim 22 wherein a slit is formed in said body behind said flap portion providing access to said pocket.
 24. A toy vehicle comprising: a rigid base; a plurality of ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted on said base for movably supporting said base; a body supported on said base fabricated substantially of soft cushion-like material shaped in the form of an automobile on which a child may sit; and securing means removably mounting said soft body onto said rigid base to permit the body to be separated from the base and used by the child as a pillow or the like, said securing means including a plurality of snaps between the body and base, with mating male and female portions of the snaps affixed to abutting surfaces of the body and base.
 25. A toy vehicle comprising: a generally flat rigid base, a plurality of ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted on said base for movably supporting said base, said base having an annular fender portion about the upper areas of each of said wheels, a body supported on said base and fabricated substantially of soft cushion-like material on which a child may comfortably sit and ride the vehicle, the bottom of said body portion being shaped to the contour of the top of said base portion and including annular soft covering portions for said fender portions, securing means removably mounting said body onto said face to permit the body to be separated from the base and used by the child as a pillow, and said body being formed in the shape of an automobile having soft rounded conventional automobile portions on which a child may rest his head. 